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Attorney wants murder confession tossed

A defense attorney wants his client's murder confession thrown out of court.
Defendant Clifford W. Beach, 80, of 166 Walnut St., Bellevue, is scheduled to go to trial Feb. 8 on charges of aggravated murder, murder and gross abuse of a corpse in connection with bludgeoning his wife to death.

Cary Ashby

Jan 20, 2011

A defense attorney wants his client's murder confession thrown out of court.

Defendant Clifford W. Beach, 80, of 166 Walnut St., Bellevue, is scheduled to go to trial Feb. 8 on charges of aggravated murder, murder and gross abuse of a corpse in connection with bludgeoning his wife to death.

At Wednesday's motion suppression hearing, Huron County Prosecutor Russell Leffler said it was acceptable for Bellevue Police Sgt. Mark Kaufman to ask questions about what Beach did before the suspect was advised of his rights because evidence such as blood-covered knives and garden tools were in plain sight. Leffler also cited a North Carolina case that says a suspect doesn't have to have his or her Miranda rights waived because it's inferred from conversations.

Beach's attorney, Reese Wineman, told the judge that Kaufman's questions led to Detective Capt. Matt Johnson obtaining a statement from Beach about killing his wife. Wineman also argued he doesn't believe his client waived his Miranda rights.

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